Robert mcalpine



(No Model.)

R. MoALPINE.

CLOTHES LINE PROP.

Patented Dem 31, 1889.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ROBERT MOALPINE, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO HIMSELF ANDWILLIAM MORGAN, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,378, dated December31, 1889.

Application filed June 1'7, 1889: Serial No. 314,561. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MOALPINE, of Trenton, in the county of Mercerand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement inClothes-Line Props, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

One object of my invention is to produce a simple, neat, and convenientclothes-line prop which is extensible to provide different lengthstherefor to adapt it to suit varying heights of the line it is tosupport.

Another object is to provide a clothes-line prop the sliding parts ofwhich, when adj usted to alter its length, will automatically look atany desired point.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts, as will be hereinafter explained, and pointedout in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view in elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the clothes-line prop partially in section. Fig. 3 is asideelevation of the clothes-line prop as it appears when closed up.Fig. 4. is a view of a portion of one section of the prop, showing arear face view of the spring-dog which automatically locks theprop-sections together at different points of adjustmentfor length; andFig. 5 is an enlarged view of the locking-dog, which is in position on apropsection.

The pole or prop is comprised of two pieces of wood of suitable length.These are preferably made rectangular in cross-section, so as to provideflat adjacent sides. The lower section B is provided with a projectingmetal point e, that serves to retain the prop from slipping when in use.At spaced intervals notches h are cut into one side of the lower sectionB, which notches have each an inclined wall that terminates in a squareoffset or shoulder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

upper section A of the prop is held in sliding connection with the lowersection B by the clip-bands c 0', attached at proper points on the twosections, so as to project oppositely therefrom and loosely connect theupper section to the lower section and permit it to slide endwisethereon. As shown in Fig. 2, the side of the upper section A is recessedat g a suitable distance from its lower end to provide a seat for thespring-dogO, which is secured to the prop-section by a screw or rivet i.The dog 0 is preferably made of plate spring-steel or brass and is bentoutward at the lower end 7?. to cause this end to rest on one of theshouldered notches hwhen brought opposite thereto. A threaded stud-bolta is attached to the dog 0 near its end n, projects through a hole inthe section A, and is provided with a winged nut 19, that when screwedupon the stud will draw the spring-dog into the recess and release itsend n from engagement with' one of the notches h, as will be readilyunderstood on inspection of Fig. 5.

At the upper end of section A there is a notch f, cut to receive aclothes-line, and at the lower end of section B a projecting guardplated is affixed to limit the sliding movement of the section Awhen it isclosed upon the other section and the device assumes the shape shown inFig. 3.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the loosening ofthe nut will permit the spring-dog C to project outwardly from its seatand engage its bent end with the shoulder of the notch it is opposite,thus affording firm support for weight of clothes thrown upon the upperend of prop-section A.

When the prop-sections A B are closed up, the prop can be lengthened bysimply pulling steadily upon the sliding section A until the right notchis engaged by the dog C to give the desired length to the prop. To closeup the prop, the nut b is screwed upon the studbolt 0, until the dog isdrawn into its recess, when the sections will be released, and the twoparts of the prop can be quickly slid one upon the other until the uppersection rests upon the guard-plate, as is shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters 1. In aclothes-prop, the combination, with a sectionwhich is notched at intervals on one side and a section which is held byclip-bands section, of a plate-spring dog which is seated IO to slip onthe notched section, of a springin a recess in one section and engagesthe dog, a threaded stud fixed to this dog, and a sloped and shoulderednotches of the other nut, substantially as set forth. a section, athreaded stud, and a winged nut,

2. In a clothes-pr0p,t he combination, with a substantially as setforth.

section that has notches formed on one of its ROBERT MOALPINE.

sides, which notches each slope to a shoulder Witnesses:

in one direction, and another section Which H. R. HAVEN,

is held by clip-bands to slide upon the notched LUCIE KRUMHOLZ.

